Melodic Minor Scale Secrets – Cool Jazz Modes Tutorial

Want to learn some great melodic minor scale tricks?

Want to learn how to use this powerful jazz scale to begin building some some killer sounding improvisation shortcuts?

Well, you’ve come to the right place. (free video lesson below)

This is one of the most powerful jazz modes there is and you’ll hear hundreds of legends use this sound in their playing. Very useful to know!

Why This Free Melodic Minor Scale Secrets Lesson Is Special

We’ve created this free lesson to celebrate the release of our brand new jazz improvisation course. It’s called …

“The Jazz Improvisation Super System” 3 DVD Set

Legendary jazz pianist, David Garfield, and I created the “Jazz Improvisation Super System” program after spending THOUSANDS of hours on stage, in the rehearsal studio, and in lessons with students.

Fortunately, you won’t have to spend thousands of hours and years of your life learning amazing jazz improvisation skills.

We’ve made the learning process easy for you. So, we put tons of our jazz improvisation discoveries in the 3 DVD set.

Yes, we share thousands of our most closely guarded pro jazz improvisation secrets.

95% of piano players don’t know these techniques. And those that do rarely share them. David is an incredibly generous soul!

So, we’re very excited to be able to show you how to play all these amazing techniques.

We’ll be releasing several sample lessons from the DVDs and more free goodies in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, enjoy today’s free vid and get started learning these melodic minor scale and jazz modes. They’re super fun!

Melodic Minor Scale Secrets & Improv Nuggets

Take 5 minutes and watch as I show you how to turn the melodic minor scale into 3 insanely awesome jazz scales. They’re easy to play and sound great.

I’ve used these scales on thousands of performances. You can use them to:

1. Improvise over minor, dominant, and diminished chords.
2. Build freedom and modern flavors in your improvisation
3. Most importantly, you can even use them to build chords.

Just make sure you insert them over the right types of harmonies.

5 Important Tips For Mastering This Melodic Minor Scale Lesson

1.  How 1 Scale Can Unlock Dozens Of Chords

Notice that by starting this scale on different notes it takes on a completely unique flavor.

The ear recognizes it as a familiar sound (melodic minor has been used for hundreds of years).

But, when you play it over new chords and harmonies it reinvents itself.

It creates this beautiful feeling of familiarity and cutting edge at the same time. Pretty cool right? There are thousands more of these tricks too.

3. How To Mix The Melodic Minor Scale With Bebop Licks… It Sounds Unreal!

On the first example, I’m just jamming on a 2 5 1 chord progression.

Cm7(5) – F7 – Bbm6.

Over the 2 & the 5 chords I’m playing classic bebop lines.

When I get to the Bb minor chord that’s when I switch to the Bb melodic minor scale.

The melodic minor scale centers us – and your audience – on the feeling of the 1 chord.

This mix of bebop and scale runs is a great recharger for both you and your audience!

3. This Scales Sounds Sweet On Latin Modal Tunes

Whenever I play Eb lydian dominant and the altered scale my musical ear always makes me think of latin tunes like Night & Tunisia, Nica’s Dream, and Caravan.

There are long stretches of dominant chords and minor chords in both tunes and these scales are perfect for those areas.

As you continue to build your creativity and freedom with jazz improvisation you’ll want to explore other songs with these scales.

(Don’t worry, we’ll help you by taking you through lots of great songs with the new course!)

4. How To Use Arpeggios To Add Flavor

Another cool technique you should listen for is how I often play triads mixed in with basic scale motions.

Notice the difference between playing through the scale using wider intervals versus just running up the scale in basic stepwise motion.

Do you see how it changes the flavor and feeling of the improvisation line? Do you hear the increases in tension?

Play the scale both ways so you can see how playing different interval shapes add to the overall jazziness of each scales sound.

By the way, David breaks down step by step hundreds of different beautiful scale shortcuts and patterns in the new course. If you want to get your fingers flying you’ll love it.

5. You Can Also Use This Scale In Your Blues, Rock, & Funk Playing

Don’t be fooled by the “jazzy flavor” of this scale. You can also use melodic minor scales and jazz modes in your blues, rock and funk improvisations.

Famous musicians like Steely Dan, Robben Ford, Chick Corea, Eric Clapton, Snark Puppy, and many others have used this scale concept to spice up their music.

Especially when you’re playing a jazz blues tune like Straight No Chaser.

Learn From A Jazz Improvisation Master

We’ll be releasing some cool sample lessons from David in the coming weeks. So watch for that.

And next week I’m going to teach you how to turn bland 1 chord songs into jazzy grooving vamps that are fun to play for hours.

I use this sound all the time in my rock, jam band, funk, blues, & jazz gigs too. You’ll love it.

(Yes, even more goodies for you to build impressive jazz improvisation skills.)

By the way, if you haven’t seen David play yet check, he’s currently on tour with jazz legend George Benson.

But, you should also check out him shredding on the piano in these videos below…

https://youtu.be/lsYQDJJ-iv4

If you have any questions on today’s lesson or the new DVDs please leave a comment below. I read every comment and I’m happy to help!

We’re committed to help you learn powerful jazz improvisation skills and freedom at the keyboard.

See you next lesson and get some practice in!